Night Chef: An Epic Tale of Friendship with a Side of Deliciousness!

by Mika Song

Ratatouille meets the magic of Studio Ghibli as a lonely raccoon who secretly lives inside a fine French restaurant and yearns to be a chef must venture into the woods for the first time to help a baby crow find its home.

The Night Chef has never had a family—only a dream.

She's spent years living inside the walls of a human restaurant, honing her cooking skills. She knows she can fry an omelette with the best of them-- but she also knows that humans will never accept her. And so she keeps to herself, hidden and alone.

Then, one evening, when Night Chef cracks an egg open for her dinner, a baby crow named Ichi falls out! Despite being reluctant to leave her home, Night Chef steps into the wilds in order to reunite Ichi with his family. And along the journey, she might just find a family to call her own, too.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Animals, Food, Fiction, Childrens, Cooking

160 pages, Hardcover

Published October 28, 2025

About the author

Mika Song grew up in Manila, Philippines, and Honolulu, Hawaii. She moved to New York to attend the Pratt Institute and worked in animation before making children's books. She lives in New York City with her husband and daughter.

Reviews

[Skye Elder · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review!!!

This book has beautiful artwork and the storyline is amazing! 🤩
From the moment I started reading this I could not put down, literally!
I would recommend this to anyone and everyone!

[Penny Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mika Song did not disappoint with Night Chef. The story just pulled you along the journey with this adorable raccoon chef. I loved the life lesson, every comes full circle. I don't want to spoil it, it is definitely worth the read! Adorable, fun and full of life art! The end pages of recipes and drawing tips were great additions!

[Holly Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

The watercolor illustrations are a breath of fresh air (like her other work) within the genre. The story of the Night Chef is adorable. But it’s not until the end that you get the whole story. Ratatouille is so completely different yet tickles your memory. But I think they are both stories that children will enjoy.

[Larakaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Veeery sweet and Ichi is so cute! I also liked how the raccoon learned how nice it is to outside and find friends.

[Kayla Zabcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

90%

This one is freaking adorable! This has the magical vibes of a Studio Ghibli movie, but with delicate watercolor artwork and flowy ink outlines. The story was sweet, and I was sad to see it end. The only thing I would change is I wish they found a way to cure the owl of his rat poisoning; the story implied he was a good guy until outside circumstances made him blood-thirsty, and I kinda felt bad for him.

~Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.~

[YSBR · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little racoon named Night Chef lives incognito in a human restaurant but it’s a lonely life. The people are on to her after hours cooking adventures and have locked up all the food! In her search for an egg to top off her meager ramen, she rescues a newly hatched crow, whom she christens Ichi (his sole line of dialogue, repeated throughout the tale, is “Eech”), and promptly decides to reunite him with his flock. Thus begins a classic quest, with Night Chef and Ichi stopping along the way to work in the Mole’s Hole Restaurant (which serves many worm-based dishes), whip up a meal in a human diner overrun with racoons, and ride the rails with a pack of hungry dogs. All the while, the pair is pursued by a crazed owl, adding some action sequences to the mix. After finally returning Ichi to his family, there’s time for one final trip to the Mole Hole and a community battle against the owl, with support from some unexpected allies. Night Chef is a delightful and original character, hardworking, brave, optimistic, and endlessly creative in the kitchen. She inhabits her cooking persona like a ninja, excited to learn about the mystical world of flavor and repeating mantras when she feels overwhelmed: “A chef will assist when needed”, “A chef will follow her nose”, and “A chef will master her timing”. Song has created three-dimensional characters with texture and foibles, even when they’re only part of the plot for a few pages. The Mole’s Hole itself has plenty of personality, with its hard-working staff, its grill for roasting fireflies, and its board of daily (worm) specials. The relationship between Night Chef and Ichi really reminded me of Snoopy and Woodstock and the whole book recalled, the world of Charles Shultz’s Peanuts, mixing gentle humor, existential (and age-appropriate) musings, and “old-fashion” ideas about friendship, loyalty, and self-discovery.

Song’s delicate and beautiful watercolor illustrations, with added black lines for emphasis, and her elegant, hand drawn lettering make this book a standout. So many graphic novels for this age group feature flat digital illustrations, frantic motion, and throwaway characters; instead, this one strategically deploys its artistic flair to advance the story. The framed panels effortlessly shift in size and shape, but the layout never distracts. The soft, organic color palette perfectly suits the natural world, while the animals remain adorable but vaguely realistic (despite wearing clothes, eyeglasses, and bowties). Song also includes some fun backmatter, including directions for drawing the Night Chef and a few recipes. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[pineapple tofu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
For Night Chef, a lonely raccoon living within the walls of a French restaurant has its perks and downsides. She, someday, wants to cook with humans, yet is afraid they would never want her. Yet, on one evening while making her ramen, she cracks open an egg and out pops a baby crow. What starts out as a surprise, Night Chef ventures into the wildlands with numerous animals, accompanied by the baby crow named Ichi. Determined to find Ichi’s home, Night Chef stumbles across a tavern on the waterfront full of animals like her. Will Night Chef ever see her own family?
Utterly adorable and just as fun. Night Chef takes the cake where found family and cooking come together in a delightful graphic novel for all ages. I loved the art style, which resembles watercolor, as it appears on every page in darkened browns, rustic oranges, and emerald greens. As a fan of the author’s Norma and Belly series, I hope she continues with Night Chef. This graphic novel is full of warm fuzzies!

[Brian Alan S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why did I not know Mika Song is Filipino & Japanese American? I’ve read a Schneider Honor book she illustrated from the Henry book series . . . didn’t know if she would ever appear on my radar again. But here she is! This time both author and illustrator: a graphic novel with illustrations oh so beautiful and oh so gentle as the story itself. It is Publishers Weekly’s Best Book of the Year for 2025 with three starred reviews. This kind of story is food for the soul. Not chicken soup for the soul, heavens no! More like Ramen for the soul. Yes. Ramen. Ramen with egg. Now, if I tell you the key elements to this story, I am afraid i’ll spoil everything. So, if you want to find out why this book is accoladed, go ahead and get your copy! If you are a middle grade reader who needs some kind of icebreaker/palette cleanser, this book is it!

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ideal for newly independent readers, this graphic novel features Night Chef, a racoon who lives in the walls of a fancy restaurant and learns how to cook by observing the chefs at work. When she comes upon an egg that hatches into a crow before she can prepare her planned meal, she knows she needs to bring it to its home. Into the woods she goes, staving off and owl, meeting new friends who are engaged in a battle for survival, and befriending some canines by opening cans on a train. And that small crow? Returning it to the other crows in their roost leads to some revelations about the Night Chef's own history. This tale is heartwarming--and heartburning, unless you're in the mood for crickets or worms.

[Jackie "the Librarian" · Rating 4 out of 5]

A valiant young raccoon lives in the walls of a restaurant, and has taken the title of Night Chef. She works the night shift, but is interrupted in her quest to make ramen when the egg she finds in the window box hatches, and she is suddenly the guardian of a young crow. Her quest to take care of the crow and return it to its family leads her out into the world, and a community of other animals running a restaurant of their own.
Beautiful artwork, appealing characters. I wanted a little more story, though, as I was occasionally a little lost in what was happening. I am not always the best at catching all the details provided by the artwork, though.
A good first book of the year, recommended for ages 8 and up.

[K.C. Norton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute middle grade foodie graphic novel! The landscapes are beautiful, and the characters blend animal traits with anthropomorphized behavior in an adorable way. The humor and internal logic of the story are charming. The Ratatouille vibes are strong with this one, though there are no central human characters, and in fact very few panels with humans in them at all.

I love that the whole quest to reunite a nekkid baby crow with his flock began with the desire to make the perfect bowl of ramen. Relatable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Night Chef, a raccoon who has lived inside of a human kitchen ends up hatching a crow thinking it was an egg she could use for making ramen that kicks off an early graphic novel for young readers as she finds another kitchen to be a chef in filled with animals but under attack by an owl. Ichi the baby crow is a part of the story as are other animals and the Night Chef where they'll help one another out both to make a home and make their dreams come true.

The watercolor is exquisite and the early graphic novel is simple and lovely. And who doesn't love a story featuring food?

[Jamie Canaves · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this unique graphic novel about a raccoon who wants nothing more than to be a chef and ends up displaced and going on an adventure. The pitch on this is “Ratatouille meets the magic of Studio Ghibli” and for once I can 100% say I agree with that pitch.

I read it as an ebook from the library and I definitely plan on buying a physical copy to reread and so it will sit on my shelves.

--from 📚On Reading in November 2025

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fast-paced graphic novel. It’s about a raccoon who is a chef. They spent their life in the kitchen making stuff but one night while on a hunt for an egg they find a baby crow. Then they make it their mission to get this baby crow back to a nest. Along the trip they’ll make new friends find new animals, restaurants, and even try to survive an owl attack. This book was lots of fun. I wouldn’t call it a beginner even though there are a lot more illustrations and there are words, I would put this third fourth grade and it was a joy to read.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Night Chef (a raccoon) hides during the day in the kitchen of a restaurant. One night, after closing, while making ramen, an egg he was going to use hatches into a crow. Night Chef is determined to return the baby bird to its parents.

Fun situations, the bit with the owl and the frogs was unexpected and scary. I loved that Night Chef has learned the rules of being a good chef and adapts those rules to different situations. All in all, a cute story with darling illustrations.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely, reflective story about persistence, the power of friendship, and the importance of thinking on your feet. The watercolor art style is divine. Everything about this graphic novel is filled with a warmth that'll encourage kids to come back for repeat readings. These characters are such a delight!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Graphic for the arc!

[Sabrina Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute little story of a raccoon who has always hidden herself away from the humans. She has a knack for making and creating food concoctions that everyone loves. One night while making ramen, she finds a baby bird and her adventure to deliver the baby back to her home leads her in a great adventure.

I loved how quick this story was while remaining action packed and sweet.

[Ande Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An utterly adorable graphic novel about a raccoon chef that ends up on a quest to find the crows' nests after one of the eggs they were cooking hatches. I LOVED the illustrations in this one. The animals were all fun, and I am eager for more foodie raccoon adventures.

Thanks to NetGalley, Mika Song, and Random House Children's for the chance to read and review. My opinions are my own!

[Mimayk · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐ - I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved the art style in this! The plot was super cute even though it took a turn that I didn’t think it would take. I liked the characters a lot. Night Chef was my favorite. I’m not sure if this is going to be a series, but I would definitely like to see more of it!!

[Alex Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This graphic novel was so cute! I loved every second of it! There’s nothing cuter and more endearing than animals in clothes that care about one another.
I felt like I stepped into a Ghibli movie as I read this book. If you love a reading journey that includes food, heroic animals, and an adorable story then this is for you!
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Megan Mann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was ABSOLUTELY adorable. It was such a fun, meandering tale. And it circled back on itself, which was so fun! I really loved this. It was cute, it was sweet, it had a happy ending. And we LOOOOOOOOVE a recipe at the end! I loved that it tied itself to the story while also being an actual recipe.

Really cute!

[Chrissy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Night Chef was a jolly read, with lots of goofy jokes, along with a sweet protagonist determined to do the right thing. I liked each little episode, and how the characters circled back into the story. Some of the illustrations were just a tad difficult for me to dicifer, but most of the characters were adorable and friendly looking on the page.

[Karina Arroyos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a cute graphic novel for younger kids. I really enjoyed the characters Ichi and Night Chef because of their bond. The story follows Night Chef as he tries to return Ichi to his roost, but of course, problems arise on their trip. You meet other memorable characters along the way, and I feel that this book is perfect for fans of “The First Cat in Space” and “The Bad Guys.”

[Dolores · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Night Chef lives in the walls of a human kitchen. At night she comes out and does her own cooking. But when she finds all the cabinets locked, she must forage for her food supplies. When the egg she finds for her "perfect ramen" hatches into a young crow, she sets out on a quest to return the crow to her nest. Along the way she meets many friends and has lots of adventures. Sweet and fun.

[Melki · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young raccoon who loves to cook finds herself fostering a tiny crow. The two share many adventures, and lots of worm-based meals as they search for a crow family to properly raise the young 'un.

I absolutely adored this one! It's a book I'd love to read once a year.

And, yes, there are . . . GULP . . . recipes!

Many thanks to Random House Graphic and NetGalley for sharing.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a adorable children's comic about a little raccoon who works in a diner when it closes, but he comes across a baby crow and tries to return him to the flock. The soft watercolors and the expressive movement of the characters makes for a warm and lovely story. A great book for kids to read on their own.

[Matt Glaviano · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

What was meant to be the last book of 2025 didn't get finished until after midnight. Happy New Year.

A gentle graphic novel about found families and cooking. Water color illustrations set a comfortable mood even if they don't translate particularly well to this book's more action-y sequences.

Cute book that would be a pretty easy later elementary school recommendation.

[Kristy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just okay for me. There isn't a whole lot to it and the art style is fine, but not my favorite. There were a few times where it was hard to tell what was going on because the art is so simple.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital review copy.

[Amanda Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute little graphic novel about finding home and learning who you are. I loved how the thing with the crows comes full circle at the end. This is a great one for animal lovers or aspiring chefs.

[Zaidee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute! This was a sweet story with a good helping of adventure, alongside moments of connection to the communities Night Chef encounters. I enjoyed the camaraderie between characters, and Night Chef's repeated affirmations to herself.